“Are you ready for the game tomorrow night?” My dad’s beer spilled onto the coaster as an older waitress placed it down on to the table.
“We’re as ready as we can be,” he said, glancing backward at the noisy booth in the corner of The Bex. It was the most popular restaurant at Bexley U, given the fact that it was always packed. This was a tradition. My parents started eating here the night before certain games for good luck, and sometimes, I tagged along. My father was extremely superstitious. I was pretty sure it was a requirement for all hockey players and their coaches. Gray was the same way. I couldn’t even talk to him the night before a game because he liked to meditate.
Looking back, I wondered what kind of meditation he was actually doing.
I was surprised that Aasher followed me to the rink last week, because it was the night before a game. Maybe he was the exception—unless his pregame ritual was following college girls around only to offend them.
“Sutton.” My mom took a sip of her Coke. “What is your major?”
I glanced over at my roommate, envious of how at ease she was in every situation. It didn’t matter where we were or who we were with; she always seemed cool and collected.
I’ve gotten to know Sutton so much better since she moved in a few weeks ago, and I couldn’t understand why her ex would ever let her go. She was kind, thoughtful, gorgeous, smart, and she knew how to have fun–even if we were just hanging out in the apartment, watching Netflix. She was much more outgoing than I was, and she was definitely more comfortable with the hockey team and parties on jock row, but she never made me feel bad for turning down an invite to go to the apartment across the hall. I’d rather poke my own eyeballs out than sit there and watch Aasher judge me.
“It’s marketing, right?” I glanced at my dad after taking a bite of my burger.
“Um, yeah.” Sutton laughed softly. “How did you know that?”
I was wondering the same thing.
“Crew mentioned it once or twice. How is my star player doing?”
Sutton’s face fell.
“Dad.” I silently tried to tell him to shut up, but he was completely oblivious.
I glanced at my mom who was eyeing Sutton. She turned to my dad and patted his hand. “Honey, they’re not together anymore.”
“What? Oh…” He cleared his throat. “Sorry.”
Sutton put on a good front, smiling and brushing off his mistake. I placed my hand on hers under the table and gave it a little squeeze, wanting to fix the situation because there was nothing worse than being in the spotlight when it was over something that made you uneasy.
“Your hockey players are acting like a bunch of children over there.” I edged my head to the loud booth in the back that housed all four of my neighbors, plus some, and shifted the attention from Sutton. There were a few football players hanging around too, with an oversupply of puck bunnies and jersey chasers. I knew enough about jocks to know that they each had a certain nickname for girls who’d drop to their knees at a moment’s notice for them.
My dad waved over his head, and before I knew it, Aasher and Theo were on their way to our table. His two superstars. I scowled at Aasher when my parents were distracted, already irritated with him.
I’d successfully evaded Aasher the several times he’d followed me or tried to ask anything that wasn’t of his concern. Not only had he insulted me on numerous occasions, but I knew he’d bring up the bet. I was still reprimanding myself for telling him that I knew. It was all his fault. I grew unsteady around him. I fumbled over my thoughts whenever he smirked at me, let alone touched me. It was like climbing a never-ending rope. I kept trying to get the upper hand, but he beat me every single time.
“Hey, handsome boys!” My mom greeted Theo and Aasher like they were her sons.
I snickered, and Sutton quietly laughed under her breath. At least someone appreciates my annoyance. Aasher’s mouth twitched, and it gave me more satisfaction than it should have.
“Are you two ready for tomorrow’s game?” she asked.
Theo nodded. “Just about. Getting ready to head back to my room to start my pregame routine.”
See, superstitious.
“And what about you?” I looked up at Aasher, unable to keep myself from poking him. “Do you have any pregame routines?” A sarcastic laugh left me. “I mean other than throwing poker parties the night before a game and keeping us up with the noise?”
My dad and Theo both whipped their heads to look at Aasher.
“Poker parties?” My dad was gone, and in his place was Coach Lennon.
I was amused. It wasn’t my plan to provoke Aasher, but I was glad I did. He deserved it.
Sutton sucked her cheeks in, and I batted my eyelashes innocently at him. He played off his frustration well with a little smirk, but I could tell he was irked.
He put his hands in his pockets, seeming calm. “It’s just a pregame thing with a few of the guys. I don’t make the rules. I just win the games.”
“We all win the games,” Theo corrected.
The red blotches on my dad’s neck told me he was irritated to find out that there were poker games going on the night before a game, but I didn’t feel bad about throwing Aasher under the bus. Getting a reaction from him was refreshing, even if I knew I’d only have the upper hand for a second.
“It could always be worse, I guess,” my dad finally said after seeming to think it over.
“It’s better than what I used to do,” Aasher replied.
Theo repeated him. “What you used to do?”
Aasher’s crooked smile had me at the edge of my seat. I sensed the danger before he looked over at me. Our eyes snagged, and there was an immediate shift in the air. A silent threat. Or warning. I wasn’t sure which.
“I used to sneak out of the dorms when I thought no one was awake, and I’d go to the rink after hours.”
My cheeks blazed, and I gripped my glass of water tightly.
He was still following me.
I thought I was so slick, leaving the apartment well after I thought everyone was asleep. He followed me once. I should have known he’d do it again.
Instead of being embarrassed, I was pissed.
Did he really think he’d catch me in there with one of his teammates? Even after I confessed that I knew about the bet?
“To do what?” Theo asked.
I listened carefully, wondering if he was bluffing or not.
“I’d just stand there and stare at the ice through the glass.”
My hand slipped against the condensation on my cup. Sutton grabbed it before it fell and soaked the table, because I made no attempt.
Aasher was standing near the foot of our table like a smug asshole, and I swore time had stopped. I blocked out the conversation and stared at him.
He wasn’t fazed at all, but he knew he had hit the mark with me.
I was thankful when Ford walked over to the table and all the attention shifted to him, because I was sweating.
“My mama is comin’ up to watch the game, Mrs. Lennon.”
My mom bristled. “What did I say about calling me Mrs. Lennon?”
Ford grinned. “Sorry, sorry. My mom taught me manners, though. Never go through a woman’s purse, and always call her Mrs.”
My dad looked over at my mom and rolled his eyes, but then he smiled a second later, which probably threw off the entire restaurant because not many people saw Coach Lennon smiling–unless they won a game. And even so, he usually kept his theatrics to a minimum.
“Anyway…” Ford took a seat beside me and wiggled his hips so Sutton and I would scoot over. My dad’s eyebrows furrowed, but he didn’t say anything. There was no point in commenting on Ford’s behavior.
“My mom is bringing her famous country fried steak, and I told her to bring you the recipe.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“You remembered!” Ford’s hand was taken in my mom’s, and I quickly realized that it wasn’t just my dad who had a relationship with the hockey team, but she did too. I would have realized that sooner if I hadn’t stayed holed up in my childhood bedroom for the last year, hiding from the press and many articles floating around the internet, discussing my figure skating career and speculating about my fall.
“Are your parents coming?” My mom glanced at Aasher. I hadn’t even noticed that Theo had left.
Aasher’s entire demeanor changed. His relaxed shoulders tensed, and the muscles along his forearms flickered against his chest. The half-smile on his face fell. It was clear that he was uncomfortable.
“No. They usually just watch on TV. My dad can’t take time off from work, and my mom isn’t a fan of traveling by herself.”
“If you give me her number, I will gladly record some of your ice time and send it over.”
I couldn’t pull myself away from Aasher’s warm smile. One cheek tipped, and his green eyes were bright. “Sure, Mrs. Lennon. That would be great. She’d love it.”
After he rattled off the number to my mom, my dad said they needed to get going. Ford slipped out of the booth allowing Sutton and I to follow. Aasher stood back with his hands in his pockets, watching me as I hugged both of my parents. Sutton did the same because once you were my friend, my mom treated you like you were her own.
“See you tomorrow, sweetie.” My mom squeezed my hand and followed my dad over to the rest of the hockey team. He was scolding them for playing poker the night before a game. Sorry, not sorry.
Aasher leaned into my space. “That’s on you, Duster.” His whisper sent me into overdrive, but I recovered quickly after he pulled away.
“You’re worried about him learning about your poker night?” I laughed. “Wait until I tell him ab—”
“Don’t,” he interrupted.
Ford rubbed his hands together, unaware of our quiet conversation. “Do you girls want some milkshakes?”
Aasher scoffed. “Milkshakes? Bro, we have a game tomorrow. Stop putting shit in your body.”
“It’s part of my pregame ritual, though. I do this every night before a game. It’s for good luck.”
“I could go for one,” Sutton said, following Ford. He draped his arm over her shoulders, and off they went, leaving Aasher and me alone.
A moment before, I was confident and masterful, throwing a jab at Aasher in front of my father. But now, I was the size of the french fry that had fallen on the sticky floor of The Bex.
“Really?” he asked, leaning back against the side of the booth with his arms crossed.
“What?” I pulled on my jacket and acted innocent. I leaned forward and grabbed my phone but snapped back up like a rubber band when I felt his warm whisper coat the side of my neck.
“You’re a brat.” He quickly stepped back, out of my space.
“And you’re a stalker.” I wanted my insult to come out harsher than what it did. Instead, I was breathy sounding and clearly affected by him. “How many times have you followed me to the rink?”
Aasher avoided answering. Instead, he reprimanded me. “You shouldn’t be there alone at night. It’s closed for a reason.”
“You’re treating me like I’m a child.” And for what reason?
Aasher’s smug look was a slap to my cheek. “Don’t act like one, and I won’t treat you like one.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. My chest twisted, and anger ripped up my neck, and before I knew it, I was standing a mere inch from him. I tilted my chin and peered into his wildly inviting green eyes as he waited for my reaction. He loved sparring with me just as much as I loved sparring with him, but I was ready to knock him down a few notches. “Okay, Aasher. But just remember, you asked for it.”
His head tilted.
“I’ll see you tomorrow night.” I made sure my voice was full of sugar.
He said nothing as I backed away and motioned for Sutton. She pecked Ford on the cheek and thanked him for the milkshake.
The bell on the door chimed over our heads. When I turned back to get one last look at Aasher, I watched him mouth the words, “Tomorrow night?”
I smiled deviously.
Before Sutton and I reached her car, I grabbed the milkshake out of her hand and gave it a quick sip before handing it back. “We need to talk.”
“About you and Aasher? Because there is definitely something going on with you two.”
There was, but it wasn’t what she was assuming.
“I need to put him in his place.”
If he wanted to follow me everywhere and watch my every move when his teammates were around, then I’d give him a show. Irritation was fueling my impulsivity, but that was what he wanted, right? To irritate me? The spark was long gone, but I still felt the after-effects of his warm breath on my neck with his belittling insults.
“Oh, I’m so in.” Sutton did a little jump.
I thought for a second. “Actually, I need to put the whole hockey team in their place.”
“The whole team? Why?”
As soon as we were both safely tucked away in her car, I stole another sip of the chocolate shake. “Remember when I was trapped in my dad’s office?”
She nodded before putting her car in drive. She zoomed past Ford and Aasher so fast that gravel kicked up, and they were forced to take a step back.
“There’s a bet.”
Sutton glanced at me.
I sighed, looking out the window. “An ice bet.”
She pressed harder on the accelerator.
“And I’m the prize.”
